The project also forced the relocation of some 80,000 people.In 1964, faced with growing resentment and afraid of internal opposition, Nkrumah pushed a constitutional amendment that made Ghana a one-party state and made himself the life president. Government . These factors rapidly eroded the limited support the Limann government enjoyed among civilians and soldiers. Gold production had also fallen to half its preindependence level.Ghana's sorry economic condition, according to the PNDC, had resulted in part from the absence of good political leadership. Opponents of the idea organized demonstrations against the government, arguing that the referendum vote had not been free or fair. The councils ruled by consent rather than by right: though chosen by the ruling class, a chief continued to rule because he was accepted by his people.British authorities adopted a system of indirect rule for colonial administration, wherein traditional chiefs maintained power but took instructions from their European supervisors. Expansion of secondary schools became a high priority in 1959–1964, along with expansion of vocational programs and higher education.Even more important, however, Nkrumah believed that this domestic goal could be achieved faster if it were not hindered by reactionary politicians—elites in the opposition parties and traditional chiefs—who might compromise with Western imperialists. In early 1964, in order to prevent future challenges from the judiciary and after another Leaders of the 1966 military coup justified their takeover by charging that the CPP administration was abusive and corrupt, that Nkrumah's involvement in African politics was overly aggressive, and that the nation lacked democratic practices. This support was also based on Rawlings' willingness to enact austerity measures, which showed how far the "revolution" had moved from its roots. For example, he provided Africans with a limited voice in the central government; yet, by limiting nominations to chiefs, he drove a wedge between chiefs and their educated subjects. Among its members was By 1961, however, the young and more radical members of the CPP leadership, led by Adamafio, had gained ascendancy over the original CPP leaders like Gbedemah. Communications and railroads were greatly improved. To move in the desired direction, the PNDC needed to weaken the influence and credibility of all antagonistic groups while it created the necessary political structures that would bring more and more Ghanaians into the process of national reconstruction. They accused the government of human rights abuses and political intimidation, which forced the country, especially the press, into a "culture of silence. In response to such criticisms, the PNDC announced on 1 December 1984, the dissolution of all PDCs, WDCs, and NDCs, and their replacement with Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDRs). The opposition boycotted the elections, which undercut the triumph. A leading crop that was the result of an introduced crop was coffee.In 1891, the Gold Coast exported 80 lbs of cacao worth no more than 4 pounds sterling. Perhaps it is unsurprising, then, that the contentious Union Government proposal passed in a 1978 national referendum.In the lead up to the Union Government elections, Acheampong was replaced by Lieutenant General F. W. K. Affufo and restrictions on political opposition were lessened. Ghana, country of western Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The oil discovery has also increased Ghana's economic vulnerability, and the 2015 crash in oil prices decreased revenue.Despite Nkrumah's efforts to secure Ghana's energy independence through the Akosambo Dam, electricity remains one of Ghana's hurdles more than 50 years later. The Acheampong government reacted by banning several organizations and by jailing as many as 300 of its opponents.The agenda for change in the union government referendum called for the drafting of a new constitution by an SMC-appointed commission, the selection of a constituent assembly by November 1978, and general elections in June 1979. Official assistance from donor countries to Ghana's recovery programmeaveraged US$430 million in 1987, more than double that of the preceding years. He found refuge in Guinea, where fellow pan-Africanist The military-police National Liberation Council that took over after the coup promised elections. There was a major expansion of schooling and modernizing projects such as the new industrial city at Tema.On August 3, 1956, the new assembly passed a motion authorizing the government to request independence within the British Commonwealth.The Second Development Plan of 1959-1964 followed the Soviet model, and shifted away from expanding state services toward raising productivity in the key sectors. For the first time in Ghana’s history there was a democratic transfer of power, after National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Vice-President John Atta Mills was defeated in the second round of the presidential contest by New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader, John Kufuor. Mahama won the presidential election held in December, taking 50.7% of the vote. Obeng, and Kwesi Botchwey, were believed to be united only by their determination either to uplift the country from its desperate conditions or to protect themselves from vocal opposition.In keeping with Rawlings's commitment to populism as a political principle, the PNDC began to form governing coalitions and institutions that would incorporate the populace at large into the machinery of the national government. This attitude grew more popular as debt payments became more difficult to meet.